Apr. 23, 2013

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder / Jarrad Henderson/Detroit Free Press

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Detroit Free Press Lansing Bureau

LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder agrees with a legal opinion issued by Attorney General Bill Schuette and does not believe the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund should be used to pay for dredging, he said Tuesday.

Schuette issued an opinion and a news release Monday in which he said the trust fund is not “an ATM,” and using it to pay for dredging would contravene its constitutional purpose “to preserve and protect Michigan’s bountiful resources for generations to come.”

Attorney general opinions have the force of law unless overturned by a judge.

A bill that has passed a Senate committee would allow dredging as a permissible use for the fund, while leaving authority with the Natural Resources Trust Fund Board.

Snyder told reporters at the Lansing Center that he agrees with Schuette. He said general fund and waterways fund money should be used to pay for dredging, but not trust fund money.

Low Great Lakes water levels created “an extraordinary situation,” and “an emergency,” but “I wouldn’t expect to use the trust fund at all,” Snyder said.

Sen. Goeff Hansen, R-Hart, one of the sponsors of the trust fund dredging bill, told the Free Press on Monday that his caucus will discuss the Schuette opinion.

The Legislature has already approved $21 million in emergency dredging this year, with that money coming from the general fund and the Michigan State Waterways Fund.